Grammys Increase Number of Nominees in Four Major Categories

The Recording Academy has announced plans to expand the number of nominees in four major Grammy categories in an effort to recognize more musicians, per Billboard.

As of next year’s 61st Annual Grammy Awards, eight artists will be nominated for Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist, instead of just five.

“This creates more opportunities for a wider-range of recognition in these important categories and gives more flexibility to our voters when having to make the often challenging decisions about representing excellence and the best in music for the year,” said Recording Academy president Neil Portnow in a statement.

Portnow announced in May that he will be stepping down from his position at the conclusion of his contract in July 2019. He came under fire for his comments about this year’s male-dominated, pseudo-woke Grammy Awards ceremony. After only one female artist received an award during the televised portion of the ceremony, Portnow commented that women in the music business seeking recognition “need to step up because I think they would be welcome.”

Since then, the Recording Academy has created a task force to help eliminate the barriers to the advancement of women in the music industry. The group includes Common and Sheryl Crow, and is led by Tina Tchen, head of the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund.

The nearly 80 other Grammy categories will remain capped at five nominees.